Automatic closer for windows and the like



June 14 1927.

1:. v. BLUE AUTOMATIC CLOSER FOR WINDOWS AND THE LIKE Filed March 11;192e 2 sheets-sheet 1' KNX L NfJ --.www

attain,

, June 14, 1927.

L. V. BLUE AUTOMATIC vCLOSER FOR WINDOWS AND THE LIKE Filed March l1,1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q5 a. mnu) i Paieniee'lune`14, 1927.

UNITED STATI-:s

LOUIS vANcE BLUE, or PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA) AssIeNoE. or ONE-FOURTHTo winnen A.' Faison', or CHESTER, rENN'sYLvnNIA. 'i

promettere cLosEn ron' WINDOWS AND THE' LIKE.

Application mannen 11, 192e. serial no. casse.

.v n This invention relates to improvements 1n automatic closersforwindows and the like,

and the primary object of theinvention is.

15 It is common to open windows in rooms before retiring at night, anddierent types' Aof devices have been constructed for automaticallyclosmgthe windows, but so far as I am aware, these devices have not come20 into general use.

kOne object of my present invention is to l construct a device for theabove described purpose that is' comparatively cheap and Ysimple inconstruction and `easily applied to any window. 'l

Another object of the invention is to provide the device with a manuallyoperated means for charging it, and holdin@ the window open and forreleasing the charge and releasn the holdingmeans for the window, thewin owv then being automatically closed. Further objects of theinvention will api pear-from the following description:

. Figurel isa side elevation of my iinproved automatic window closingdevice, the same being shown attached to a window sill and inconjunction with a window.

a Figure 2 is a front elevation of the same.

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical central sectional view of my improvedwindow operating device.

V.Figure y4 is -a front view of the modified form. Y

I here show a mechanical ex ression of my present improvement, whic maybe varied in certain respects without departing .from the spirit of theinvention so long as it is within the scope of the appended claims.

In the form of the invention here shown, I have a' Suitable cylinder lwhich is here i shown'mounted on a suitable casing 2 that containswithin it a suitable spring 3. The cylinder 1 will be attached yto thecasing 2 by spot welding, bolts or otherwise, and the casing providedwith a flange portion 4 through whichv screws v5 pass into the win-- dowsill 6. 7 indicates the sash of a window and 8 its glass.

The sprinfr 3 may be elongated'to form a tape 9 whici is provided with aplurality of openings 10 located at suitable points throughout itslength. Instead of having the spring itself extended as just described,it will be readily vunderstood that any suitable material may form thetape 9 and have its end attached to'the end of the spring. The upper endof this member 9 ispreferably provided with a loop 11 that ispassed-over a hook 12 carried as here shown on an upwardly extending member 13that has 1ts lower end 14 suitably attached by screws or otherwise tothe window sash'7.

-I here show a diaphragm 14 having its periphery 15 welded or otherwiseair tight attached to the inner side of the cylinder. This diaphragmwill be made ofy thin metal whereby it can be ressed outward, and thediaphragm prefera ly has its central portion. 16 bulged outward wherebyit can be forced or pushed in the-opposite direction. A bolt 17 isslidably mounted in the inner end of the cylinder 1 and its outer end18v beveled as shown whereby .the tape can freely pass upward by the endof the bolt, and when the bolt passes in one of the openings 10 of thesaid memberf9, its upper surface end will engage with the upper wall ofthe opening 10, thereby preventing the said member 9 and thevwindowtowhich it is at tached frombeing pulled down and the window closed.

I here show any suitable form of coil spring 19 that will serve toengage a suitable pin or projection 20 extending from the bolt v17,whereby the bolt is normally spring'held wl'r'ereby after being pushedoutward suiiicientlyfito. actuate'the bolt',vv it will normally springinward.

. lFor the purpose of charginglthe .cylinder 1 `attached to the'cylinderis a. suitable pipe or lother connection 26 carrying at its outer end anipple-27, the -said nipple provided with a screw threaded needle valve28. At the outer end of the stem 29 of this valve is a disk handle 30that has on its periphery any desired number of numerals 31 that can bemade to register with a pointer 32. The object of this handle 30 thusmarked will be presently described.

For the purpose of holding the member 9 in proper relation with theextended end of the bolt 17, I provide a member 33 that has its end 34suitably attached to the inner end of the cylinder 1. Guiding pins 35also project from the outer end of the cylinder and are located at eachside of the tape or other device 9 for suitably guiding it in itsmovements.

In the form here shown I preferably close the inner ends of the cylinderby a member 36, which carries a central opening that receives the bolt17, the said member 36 provided also with an inwardly projecting portion37 through which the bolt passes, thus making a bearing therefor.

The pump 21 is an ordinary air pump pro` vided with a handle 38 forforcing the air through the pipe 22 to the cylinder 1 thereby furnishingthe cylinder wlth air pressure. This pump 21 is provided with the usualair valve or valves (not shown) as they are well understood.

Instead of having the end of the spring act as the member 9, the saidcasing, 2 may be extended laterally as shown in Figure 4. This lateralextension will have the spring 3 attached to a suitable shaft 39 whileits end is attached to the casing by a pin or' other device 5. In thisinstance a spool or other like device 40 may be carried by the shaft andthe inner end of the member 9 attached to the spool. It will beunderstood of course that when the member is drawn outward, the springwill be wound up, and hat the spring always is under tension pullingdown on the member 9.

It is unnecessary to specifically describe the manner of 'holding thespring shaft against rotation, but it will be stated that its end orends 41 are squared and fit in square openings either in the walls ofthe box or other member, and that the inner end of the spring 42 isatt-ached to the shaft. Suit- 3 lable provision is made whereby theshaft can be rotated for putting the spring under the desired tensionfor pulling the window down.

The operation of the device is as follows: The pumphandle 38 4isoperated until the cylinder '1 is filled with air under considerablepressure. This air pressure will force the center 16 of the 'diaphragm14 and cause it to push the bolt 17 into the position shown in Figures'1 and 3. The cylinder can be provided with any desired air pressure andthe valve 28 closed during that operation. When the window 7 israisedthe desired height, the end 18 of the bolt will engage an opening 10,thus holding the window in the adjusted position. In order to cause thewindow to automatically close say at 7 oclock a. m., the handle 30 willbe turned until 7 is at the pointer 32. This will permit enough airgradually to escape so that the window will be closed at that time,likewise as to the other figures on the lhandle 30.

Therefore on retiring it is only necessary to charge the cylinder 1,turning the handle 30 to the number indicating the hour that it isdesired the window should close in order to operate automatically,whereby the room will be warm when the occupant arises.

Instead of having the numbers on the handle 30 indicate the hour that itis desired the window should close, it may indicate the number of hoursthat it will require the air to escape and release the bolt 18. When aperson retires at a given time, then the numbers may be used to indicatethe hour that the window will close. When, however, the occupant isirregular in retiring, then the numbers will indicate the amount ofhours required for the pressure to properly belowered to withdraw thebolt 18. By that is meant that a person retiring at 11 p. m. who isdesirous of having the window closed at 7 a. 1n. should set the deviceat 8 which would mean that 8 hours are required for the pressure torelease the bolt 18 and the window to close.

It will ot course be understood that the threads on the stem 29 of thevalve 28 will be very fine since the adjustment of the air valve must bedelicate in order to prevent the too rapid escape of air and at the sametime enable the valve stem to be turned to have the numbers on the wheelat the pointer 32. It will also be understood that instead of the handle30 a lever may project inwardly from this wheel and the lever swing pasta numbered dial, the operation then being substantially as thatdescribed for the wheel. I desire it also to be understood that thisdevice may be used in connection with dampers, radiator valves, etc., tocause them to be opened or closed at specified times, for the purpose ofregulating the heat.

Different Jforms of diaphragms may be used in the cylinder, that is tosay it may be corrugated to permit its longitudinal movement, Aand thismay` be made` in the locking. device operated bythe diaphragm y and`other details may be changed, ally without departing 'from the spiritand scope of the said invention as expressed in ,the 'api pended claims.

site direction by pressure in said cylinder,

means movable past the said member which .is connected with the window,said spring actuated member adapted to lock and release the said movablemeans by the action of the spring and the air pressure Within the tank.

2. A device for automatically closing windows comprising a pressurereceiving cylinder, a spring actuated member movable in the cylinderwhich is moved in the opposite direction by the pressure in the saidcylin- 'l der, means movable past the said member,

said means having openings engaged bythe projecting end of the memberfor holding the Window open, and prcssre means Jr'or releasing the saidmember, whereby the Window is held open and 'is released.

' 3. A device for automatically' holding Windows open and for closingthem, comprising a pressure receiving cylinder, a locking and. releasingmember actuated by the pressure in the cylinder, a spring actuated tapehaving one end connected with the Window, the tape having a plurality ofopenings to receive the said locking and releasing member, whereby thesaid Window is held open and is automatically closed by the spring tape.I y

4. A device'of the character described comprising a pressure receivingcylinder. a pressure actuated device projecting from the cylinder andhaving its end inclined upwardly, a tape having one end connected with awindow or the like and the tape having openings adapted to be engaged bythel locking member for holding the said Window open, means forproviding pressure in the said cylinder, and means for graduallyreleasing the said pressure in the cylinder.

5. A device of the kind described comprising` a cylinder having apressure actuated diaphragm therein, a locking and releasing memberoperated by the diaphragm, means for supplying ressure to thecylinder'and means for gra ually releasing the pressure fromthecylinder.

` 6. A device of the character described comprising a pressure receivingcylinder having a diaphragm thereln adapted to be actuated by pressure,`means for supplying pressure to the cylinder, a locking and releasingmember actuated by the diaphragm,

comprising a cylinder havin a spring engaging the locking and releasingdevice, means for. supplyingprcssure to thewcylinder and 'means for`releasinggradually the said pressure fromthe cylinder.

v 7. A device ot the character described v comprising a cylinder.hav-ing a diaphragm,

a` reciprocating,bolt located koutside of thel diaphragm and operatedthereby, va hand op- ,ieated pump havingeonnectlonwith the cylinder,meansvv connected "with the cylinder for gradually releasing thepressure therein and a springactuated tape movable by the end of thebolt for the purpose described'.

8. A device of the character described a diaphragm secured therein, abolt projecting beyond one end of the cylinder and actuated by thediaphragm, a spring, an elongated per.- forated member operated by thesaid spring and movable past the extending end of the bolt, means forsupplying pressure' Within the cylinder, and means tor slowly cpermitging the` escape of pressure from the cylin- 9. An automaticdevice for holding and releasing a. Window and the like comprising acylinder vhaving a diaphragm, a locking and releasing member projectingfrom the cylinder and actuated by the diaphragm, a spring,` an elongatedmember having `its outer end connected with the Window and its oppositeend operated by the said spring, means for supplying pressurewithin the.tank and means for slowly releasing the said pressure from,I the tank.`

10. A Window locking and releasing device comprising a cylinder having adiaphragm, a locking member projectine' from the cylinder and operatedby the diap iragm, the outer end of the locking member tapereddownwardly, a spring, an elongated perforated member operated by thespring having its outer end connected with the window, means forsupplying pressure to the cylinder and means for gradually releasingsaid pressure.

1.1. A device for the purpose described comprising a cylinder having adiaphragm, a locking member projecting from the` cylinder and operatedby the diaphragm, means for supplying pressure within the cylinder` apressure escape for the-tanlcadapted to be set to release the pressureWithin a given time from the cylinder, thereby operating the lockingmember. y

12. A device of the type described comprising a cylinder, means forsupplying pressure. to the cylinder, a locking member operated by thesaid pressure, a release for thev said pressure carrying a dial memberwhereby it is adapted to be set to release. the pressure Withinadjustable periods.

13. A device of the character described' comprising a cylinder adaptedto contain. pressure, a locking and releasing member operated by thesaid pressure and means connected with the tank for relieving the saidpressure, said means adjustable for varying'the periodi-of time requiredto release the said pressure for the pui` oseset forth. l

14. A device -of the type escribed comprising a pressure4 cylinder, a,lockmg means loperated by the pressure of the said tank, a

hand pump connected with the said tank for supplying pressure theretoandy pressure rel'easing means connected with the tank ad- ]ustable tovary the time required to release the said fessure.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

LOUIS V. BLUE.

